Track rail grounding clamp



June 3, 1941. v ZAPOTOYSIKY 2,244,038

' TRACK RAIL GROUNDING CLAMP Filed June 22, 1940 JVZafioZosZ y PatentedJune 3, 1941 UNITED STATES ATET QFFICE TRACK RAIL GROUN'DING CLAMP JohnV. Zapotosky, Leckrone, Pa. Application June 22, 1940, Serial No.341,943

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in electric currentconductor terminals and pertains particularly to an improved groundingterminal designed particularly for use in connection with electricallyoperated mine cars for grounding one side of the electric circuit with atrack rail.

In the operation of mine cars, a set of current conductors is employed,one of the conductors being designed for connection with a currentcarrying wire for transferring current to the operating motor for thecar while the other conductor is adapted to be connected along the linewith a rail of the car track to establish a ground for the completion ofthe electric circuit. At the present time, the means employed forestablishing this ground connection with the track rail isunsatisfactory in many ways, and it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a means for the establishment of the groundconnection in a way which effectively overcomes the unsatisfactoryconditions attendant upon the present method of making the connection.

The present invention has for its primary object to provide an improvedgrounding clamp or connector which is so designed that it may besecurely attached to a rail of a car track by the simple operation offorcibly applying the connector to the ball of the rail as a result ofwhich the connector functions to grip and hold the rail firmly and toestablish the desired electrical connection therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quick-acting groundingclampdesigned to establish an electrical connection with the head orball of a track rail, which is so designed that it may be easily andquickly released by the simple operation of imparting a twisting strain;thereto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a quick-actinggrounding clamp adapted to be applied to the ball of a track rail in theman- 'ner stated, which is so designed that it cannot he accidentallypulled loose by the application \of a strain thereto longitudinally ofthe track or transversely thereof but can only be removed by :theapplication, by an operator, of a torsional twist to the portion of theclamp to which the grounding wire is attached.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as thedescription of the same proceeds and the invention will be bestunderstood from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of thisspecification, with the understanding, however, that the invention isnot to be confined to anystrict conformity with the showing of thedrawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes ormodifications mark no material departure from the salient features ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the clamp showing the sameapplied.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation partly in section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I generallydesignates a track rail, the head or ball of which is indicated by thenumeral 2.

ihe grounding clamp embodying the present invention is coupled with theball 2 of the rail and this clamp comprises the elongated bar 3constituting the main body portion of the clamp, in one end of which isformed an aperture 4 through which is connected an end of an electriccurrent conducting wire 5.

At the opposite end of the bar 3 there is formed the arcuate gripperfoot 6, the convex face of which is provided with transversely extendingteeth I. The bar 3 gradually increases in width toward the foot portion6 so that at its foot end, it is fan-shaped as indicated at 8, and inthis fan-shaped wide portion adjacent to the foot there is formed theslot 9 which extends lengthwise of the foot.

Disposed upon each side of the foot 6 and transversely of the same is agripping arm Iii. Each of these arms at its inner end has the inwardlyoffset terminal portion H which is provided with a suitable aperture forthe reception of a supporting pivot shaft !2.

The shaft l2 passes through the bar 3 upon the side of the slot 9opposite from the foot 6 and the inset ends ll of the arms iii bearagainst the adjacent faces of the bar 3.

Upon the outer side of each arm H), the shaft I 2 carries a washer l3while at its outer end a similar washer M is retained in place by a pinor cotter key 15. Inter-posed between the adjacent washers I3 and l '1is a compression spring l6 which functions to constantly urge theadjacent arm lfl in against the adjacent side of the bar.

Each of the arms If! at its outer end is turned inwardly to form a hookjaw 11. The inner face of each jaw I1 is serrated or toothed, asindicated at I8. The width of the foot 6 is such that it will maintainthe arms I t in spaced parallel relation and the arms are constantlydrawn together and against the opposite edges of the foot 6 by thecontractile spring H) which is connected between the opposite faces ofthe arms and extends through the slot 9, as shown.

The are for the working face of the foot 6 is struck from the center ofthe shaft l2 from which the arms 10' are suspended and, therefore, whenthese arms swing on the shaft, the faces I'B of the jaws, which extendinwardly partway across the'working face of the foot, will maintain thesame spaced relation with the working face of the foot in any positionto which they may be swung.

The outer sides or faces of the j ws ll are of arcuate form, asindicated at '20, andth'e curvature of these faces extends around to andjoins the working faces of the jaws so that the curved faces togetherdefine an inwardly constricted entrance opening at 2| for the'rece'ptionof the head of the rail.

One of the arms Ii] has secured toits outer side the handle 22whichfacilitates the application of the clamp to a rail by the processof pulling the jaws open to receive the rail head instead of forcing the'rail head between the jaws by striking the clamp downwardly against thetrack.

In applying the grounding clamp, the operator, holding the bar 3 abovethe shaft I2, drives the clamp down against the head of the rail in suchmanner as to strike the rail head simultaneously with both curvedsurfaces 2'6 of the jaws. Since .these curved surfaces are arranged inthe manner illustrated, they will tend to move apart when striking therounded head of the rail, thus separating the arms and opening the jawsso as to permit the rail head to move into position between the foot,which engages the top of the rail head and the two jaws I? which engagethe under side of the head at the sides of the web portion of the rail.Since the space between the working faces of the jaws l1 and the workingface of the foot 9 is designed to snugly receive the rail head, it willbe readily apparent that after the jaws I 1 have engaged the head uponits underside and the foot 6 is in engagement with the top surfaceof thehead, the latter will be placed firmly in electrical connection with theclamp and the wire 5 which is attached thereto. If a strain is appliedto the bar 3 through the wire 5, either longitudinally of the rail ortransversely thereof, it will be readily apparent that the grip of theclamp cannot be broken. When, however, it is desired to release theclamp from the rail, the operator grasps the bar 3 and twists the sameon its long axis, thereby tending to throw the jaws ll apart and movethe arms outwardly against the tension of the springs 16, thusfacilitating the release of the rail.

In the case of persons who are not familiar with the method of applyingthe clamp to the rail, use may be made of the handle 22 to facilitatethe attachment of the clamp by pulling out upon the arm h! to which thehandle is attached while engagingthe jaw or the other arm with onesideof the rail head, thus separating the arms sufficiently to permitthe rail head .to be entered between the jaws and the foot 5. Of course,it will be understood that the apertures through the ends of the armsand through the ,bar 3 will be of sufiicient diameter with respect tothe shaftJZ to permit of the necessaryrela- ,tive movement ,betweenthebar and the arms.

In order to limit the swing of each of the arms upon the shaft I2, thefoot body 6 is provided at each end and upon each side with a shortlaterally projecting pin 23 which extends out sufficiently far to bestruck by the adjacent arms when the latter swing on the shaft therebylimiting their movement in the manner stated.

What is claimed is:

1. A grounding clamp, comprising a pair of relatively movable jawmembers adapted to position upon opposite sides of a track'rail toengage the under side of the head thereof, a cooperating gripping memberextending across the space between the jaw members and adapted to engagethe top surface of a rail head, and means couface, a pair of armsbetween which said member is disposed, rigid means pivotally joining thearms to said member for supporting the arms to swing on an axisextending transversely thereof, means normally urging said arms inwardlytoward the member and permitting their outward movement therefrom, and ajaw member forming a part of each arm and having a work ing facedisposed in opposed spaced relation with the working face of said foot,said jaw members being alined. transversely of the clamp.

3. A track rail head gripping clamp, comprising an elongated body havinga foot member at one end provided with an arcuate gripping face, a pairof arms disposedupon opposite sides of the body and extending in spacedrelation across saidfoot, means pivotally coupling the arms with thebody to swing onan axis extending transversely thereof, a gripping jawforming a part of each arm and having .a working face in spaced relationwith the arcuate face of the foot, the

ha'ndlathe other end ofthefbody forming a rail :head engaging foot, apair of arms betweenwhich the body at the foot end thereof is disposed,means coupling the arms togetherand to the body, intermediate theendsofthebody, by Which separation of the arms and rocking of the armson an axis extendingperpendicular tothe body ,may be. accomplished, thearmshaving jawforming ends extending lengthwise'o-f thebody beyond saidfoot to cooperate .with thefoot in gripping a rail head, and said armsat the jaw ends being shapedtoform camming facesfacilitatin'g'separationof the jaws uponforcible applica'ticn ofthe saidfaceslto the topedges'of -a, rail head.

5. A track rail grounding clamp comprising an elongated body one end ofwhich constitutes a handle, the other end of the body being formed toprovide a rail head engaging foot, a pin member extending transverselythrough the body, a pair of arms each pivotally supported upon the pinmember at a side of the body whereby the body is positioned between thearms, means carried by the body limiting swinging movement of the armson said pin, said arms being formed at their other ends to provide railhead gripping jaws which are positioned beyond the adjacent rail headengaging foot of the body to cooperate therewith, said arms beingshiitable relative to the body axially of the pin, and resilient meansnormally urging said arms to move together.

6. A track rail grounding clamp comprising an elongated body one end ofwhich constitutes a handle, the other end of the body being formed toprovide a rail head engaging foot, a pin member extending transverselythrough the body, a pair of arms each pivotally supported upon the pinmember at a side of the body whereby the body is positioned between thearms, means carried by the body limiting swinging movement of the armson said pin, said arms being formed at their other ends to provide railhead gripping jaws which are positioned beyond the adjacent rail headengaging foot of the body to cooperate therewith, said arms beingshif-tabie relative to the body axially of the pin, and a spring memberencircling the pin adjacent each of its ends and disposed upon the sideof the adjacent arm remote from the body, each of said spring membersbeing operatively coupled with the pin and constantly urging theadjacent arm to move toward the body.

7. A track rail grounding clamp comprising an elongated body one end ofwhich constitutes a handle, the other end of the body being formed toprovide a rail head engaging foot, a pin member extending transverselythrough the body, a pair of arms each pivotally supported upon the pinmember at a side of the body whereby the body is positioned between thearms, means carried by the body limiting swinging movement of the armson said pin, said arms being formed at their other ends to provide railhead pping jaws which are positioned beyond the adjacent rail headengaging foot of the body to cooperate therewith, said arms bein'gshiitable relative to the body axially of the pin, resilient meansnormally urging said arms to move together, and each of said arms havingthe said other end thereof formed to provide a rounded camming surfacefacilitating, the shifting of the arm, laterally with respect to thebody when such surface is applied to the outer edge of a rail head toeffect the separation of the 'arms for the insertion between said jawsand the foot of the rail head.

8. A track rail grounding clamp comprising an elongated body one end ofwhich constitutes a handle, the other end of the body having arelatively long arcuate rail head engaging foot, a pin secured to andextending transversely of the body and to the length of the foot, a pairof arm members having the foot portion of the body disposed therebetweenand each pivotally attached at one end to said pin to oscillate thereonlengthwise of the foot, each of said arms having an inwardly directedjaw at its other end which has a gripping face arranged in spacedopposed relation with the rail head engaging face JOHN v. zAPo'rosKv.

